How to Use Tattoo Transfer Paper?

Tattoos have been a prevalent part of body art for centuries. They are deemed as a means of self-expression and can sometimes hold great significance for the individuals who wear them. With the development of advanced technology, getting a tattoo has now become much easier and more accessible. And one of the essential tools used in tattooing is tattoo transfer paper. 

In this go-to guide, we will discuss what tattoo transfer paper is, the types of tattoo transfer paper, and how to use tattoo transfer paper effectively! Let’s roll the rock!

What is tattoo transfer paper?

Tattoo transfer paper is a type of thin paper that is used to transfer a design or pattern onto the skin. It is commonly used by tattoo artists to transfer their exclusively designed drawings onto the skin of their clients. The paper usually needs to work with a sheet coated with special purple ink, known as carbon copy paper, and then be transferred onto the skin.

If you search online, you may find that most tattoo transfer papers come in four sheets. They are transfer paper, protective paper, carbon copy paper, and yellow paper backing.

Types of tattoo transfer paper

Typically, there are two types of tattoo paper transfer: hectograph tattoo transfer paper and thermographic tattoo transfer paper.

The first one is primarily for handwriting and drawing directly on the tattoo transfer paper. The second one is pretty classic to work with a thermogenic transfer maker. This machine can be found in various tattoo shops.

And here, I always use HTVRONT Tattoo Transfer Paper, which combines the characters of both types and, therefore, can be applied in these two methods.

How to use tattoo transfer paper?

No matter which method you choose to use, the first step in processing the tattoo transfer paper is to decide on a desired design or pattern to transfer onto your skin. This can be a design that you have created yourself or one that you have found online or in a tattoo book. Once you have chosen a design, you will need to print it out or just draw it onto the tattoo transfer paper.

Remove the protective paper among the sheets before your actual implementation. This can be done by gently peeling back the paper from the corner. Be careful not to tear the transfer paper while peeling it off. 

Remember to put the ink sheet under your painting while drawing so that the purple ink can be transferred to the tattoo transfer paper.

If you got a thermographic transfer maker, you could make your design using regular white paper first. Then, place the pictured paper between the carbon copy paper and the yellow bottom paper, line up them together, and send them to the maker.

While the maker is doing its job, you must be careful not to pull the papers hard, or your result may fail.

Once you have gotten your design onto the tattoo transfer paper, you will need to cut it out. It is important to cut the design out as close to the edges as possible to ensure that no excess paper will get in the way when you do the transfer. 

Before demonstrating the transfer, it is important to clean the area of the skin where you will be applying the tattoo with soap or an alcohol wipe. Shave the fur and hair and ensure your skin's hygiene. This will ensure that there is no dirt or oil on the skin that may interfere with the transfer process. 

Then, put on some tattoo solution to better fix your design on the skin.

And now, you can throw away the yellow bottom paper. Once you have removed the backing, you will be able to place the transfer paper onto the skin. The transfer should be placed face down onto the skin, with the design facing the skin.

In this process, you can apply pressure to the transfer using a moist cloth or sponge. This will help to transfer the design more completely.

After applying pressure and drying the tattoo transfer paper, you will need to remove it. This can be done by gently peeling back the paper from one corner. Be sure to do this slowly to ensure that the design has fully transferred. If small parts of the design have not been transferred, you can put the transfer paper back in the same place, apply more pressure, and try again.

Last, remove the tattoo transfer paper, leaving you with the design on your skin. And the tattooing process is next.

Even though the transfer paper is waterproof, it is still important to note that the transfer will eventually fade during the tattooing process and may need to be reapplied if the process takes a long time. That’s quite normal because once the tattoo is finally finished, the stencil has also done its work.

In conclusion, tattoo transfer paper is essential for tattoo artists and those interested in getting a tattoo. Following these simple steps, you can effectively use tattoo transfer paper to make a stencil for your further tattoo. And with these tips, you can create beautiful and meaningful tattoos that will last a lifetime.